Landscape pavement



Sept. 17, 1940. c. H. ROTHMANN LANDSCAPE PAVEMENT Filed April 30, 1938 momma Patented Sept. 17, 1940 PATENT OFFICE LANDSCAPE PAVEMENT Charles H. Rothmann, Cluster, N. J

Application April 30, 1938, Serial No. 205,341

1 Claim.

This invention relates to landscape pavement and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efiicient paving block especially designed for building roads, walks, streets, parks 5 and special developments where hard paving is required.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient paving block which is so designed as to provide a pocket be- '10 tween the adjoining blocks whereby the roots of seedlings may take root, and thereby provide an interlocking connection between adjoining blocks.

A further object of this invention is the production of a special format for producing a plastic '15 block of a non-porous type possessing a maximum strength and a long life.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear throughout the following specification and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of a section of a roadway and the like, showing one form of design which may be produced by means of my improved paving block;

25 Figure 1a is a plan view showing a modified design arrangement of a herringbone type;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the block of 30 the type shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through a plurality of blocks showing a slightly modified type of block;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the blocks '35 of the type illustrated in Figure 4 Fig. 6 is a plan view of an assembly of a different type block;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 'l1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the type of block shown in Figures 6 and 7.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that l designates the improved paving block which is preferably of an elongated type, being preferably slightly higher than its width, as shown in Figure 2. The block I0 is preferably formed of a special plastic material having a close texture and is preferably non-porous. The block II] is provided along one of its longitudinal sides with a 50 longitudinally extending concave channel H and with a straight opposite side 12. The block III is also provided with a tread surface [3, and a base Hi. The blocks H) are preferably arranged in the manner shown in Figure 1, or in a manner shown 55 in Figure 1a, the blocks l0 fitting in adjoining relation, as shown in Figure 2, wherein the concave face H of one block will face the straight face 12 of the adjoining block thereby providing a pocket l between the various blocks, which pockets [5 are filled with earth and in which seedlings, such as grass seedlings I6 may be planted, the roots of which may extend down into the pockets l5' in the manner shown in Figure 2, and provide an interlocking joint between the blocks l0 and at the same time provide adecorative effect when the blocks are laid out in the pattern shown in Figures 1 and 1a, providing green grass borders around each block and producing an exceedingly attractive design formation. The concave faces l I will provide pockets l5 which are relatively restricted at their upper ends and broaden toward the center of the block allowing a wider space for the spreading of the roots of the seedlings, as well as the packing of the earth to provide an efficient interlocking joint between the blocks, in this way tending to hold the blocks in firm anchored relation and allowing for a slight expansion and contraction at the same time under varying weather conditions.

Furthermore, it will be seen that the blocks may be readily replaced for road repair, allowing the road to be maintained in excellent condition at all times, since the blocks will constitute replaceable units where new blocks may be readily substituted for worn or damaged ones without damaging the surface of the roadway, and also avoiding thedifliculty of making a proper joint between an old plastic structure and a new plastic formation.

As shown in Figures; 1 and 1a, the blocks may be arranged in various design formations, such as the regular checkerboard formation shown in Figure 1, and the herringbone formation shown in Figure 1a.

In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a modified type of the invention wherein a block I! is illustrated, of a type similar to that shown in Figure 3 with the exception that the block I1 is provided with a longitudinally extending concave channel l8 upon each of its longitudinal side faces to provide facing concave channels l8 upon the adjoining blockswhen assembled in the manner shown in Figure 4, and providing a double convex pocket I 9 between the blocks to receive the seedlings 20, such as the seedlings indicated by the numeral l6 and referred to above. As shown in Figure 4, the blocks 41 rest upon a foundation of soil, and it will be noted that the upper faces of the blocks are rounded or convex. The side edges of the blocks are also rounded and the highest point in the upper face of each block is at the approximate center thereof to support trafiic passing thereover away from the edges of the blocks and to prevent the blocks from tipping under the weight of traflic passing thereover. In this manner, the seedlings growing between the blocks will be protected from becoming worn down by the traffic or choked by the tipping of the blocks. Furthermore, the blocks are spaced from each other, as shown in Figure 4, both along their upper and lower edges thereby providing a moisture-feeding medium from above the blocks and also from the foundation s-oil below the blocks to the spaces between the blocks. In this manner the roots of the seedlings may draw moisture from the soil below the blocks. The soil and roots of the seedlings between the blocks will also provide a tying medium to tightly hold the blocks together.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8, I have shown a further type of block consisting preferably of a flat square block 2! which is adapted to be seated upon a porous mortar strip or layer 22 for holding the flat blocks 2i in place, the porous mortar or layer strip 22 resting upon a relatively deep layer of sand 23. All of the blocks l3, l1 and 2| are formed of non-porous plastic material, but in the type shown in Figure 7, the porous layer 22 is provided for draining moisture away from the non-porous blocks 2! down through the sand base 23.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple and efficient paving block has been produced which may be formed in various designs without departing from the spirit of the invention, and these blocks may be molded in desired shapes in steel forms under pressure to provduce .a dense product. The block may be produced by an ordinary laborer and does not require special skill, and the blocks may be so shaped as may be required for special conditions,

I have found by actual experience that it is important that a very dense product be produced, and I, therefore, preferably construct my blocks by using the following formula: I first produce a semi-dry mixture, that is to say, a mixture which is merely damp and is not wet, by using approximately one part cement, approximately three parts sand, approximately one part graded gravel, and approximately 18 per cent water. I place the product in a mold of suitable design, and place the product under pressure, and then tamp the semi-dry mixture to extract all of the air from the material, and the interior of the mold, whereupon the molded product is removed and set out to thoroughly dry for about twenty-four hours, and the blocks are then moistened or watered in the usual manner for about three or four days, when they are then ready for use. By following this method, I have found by experience that a very durable and dense concrete molded product is produced having all air spaces removed, thereby rendering the product non-porous which is very important in road construction Where blocks of this type are used, It has been found that by following this method wherein the blocks are produced under pressure so -as to remove'all air voids, a block having a maximum strength. is provided which will not crack, is frost proof, and will automatically take up expansion and contraction in the joints.

This invention constitutes an improvement on my previous Patent #1,'70'7,574 relating to a Roadway with improved curbstone and gutter, issued April 2, 1929, and is adapted to be constructed with the machine of a type illustrated in my previous Patent #1,927,717 dated September 19, 1933, relating to a Block forming mold. I

Having described the invention, what I claim is:

A landscape pavement comprising a plurality of rectangular paving blocks, a foundation of soil sup-porting the blocks, each block having an elongated inwardly extending channel upon the side thereof extending from a point near the top of the block to a point near the bottom thereof, the blocks being spaced from each other along their upper and lower edges to provide elongated vertically extending soikreceiving pockets between the blocks communicating with the channels in j the blocks thereby providing seedling-receiving recesses between the blocks within which seedlings take root and thrive in this manner providing a decorative joint between the blocks, the spacing of the blocks along their upper and lower edges providing a moisture-feeding medium from above the blocks and also from the foundation of soil below the blocks to the spaces between the blocks whereby the roots of the seedlings may draw moisture from the soil below the blocks, the soil be tween the blocks and the roots of the seedlings providing a tying medium to tightly hold the blocks together, each block having a rounded upper face and rounded side edges, the highest point in the upper faceof each block being at its approximate center to support traffic passing thereover away from the edges of the blocks to prevent tipping of the blocks and choking of the seedlings under the weight of traffic passing thereover and to protect and preserve the seedlings against the wear of traffic.

CHARLES H. RO'THMANN. 

